Employment Specialist

Go back Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Employment Specialist

The closing date is 23 September 2025

Interested in a new challenge? Want to help people thrive? An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the CNTW Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Support Team.

Main duties of the job

We help anyone with serious mental health problems pursue their employment ambitions in a highly person-centred way using an evidence-based approach that is proven to work.We are recruiting for a new member of staff to join our service in working into the multi-disciplinary teams that make up our Newcastle Upon Tyne Secondary Care Community Mental Health Teams. They are based in East and West Newcastle.This job would be perfect for anyone who:

• Can build strong therapeutic relationships.
• Has a passion for overcoming obstacles for others.
• Truly values inclusivity and a rights-based approach to supporting others.
• Lives and breathes our Trust values.
• Has lived experience of mental health difficulties or employment challenges.
• To know the IPS method inside out, as we will train you.
• Have specific qualifications, as we welcome equivalent experience.
• To have a specific employment support background - you will receive training and ongoing mentoring and tuition.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

We've supported dozens and dozens of service users secure paid employment that has helped them thrive We're fantastic to work for and can guarantee an exciting and varied role that rewards creativity and an action-orientated attitude.

Job responsibilities

We are excited to be recruiting for a new IPS Employment Specialist to work within the brilliant Secondary Care Mental Health pathways across Newcastle.The role requires building strong relationships with people using Community Treatment Team services, using our evidence-based tools to identify their ambitions and then use employer engagement techniques to gain or retain employment on their behalf.This is an exciting, varied and hugely gratifying role that rewards tenaciousness, creativity and excellent communication skills.

Please find attached job description for full details.

We welcome your application.

Person SpecificationEducation and Qualification

• Evidence of multi-disciplinary team working.
• Proven ability to develop therapeutic partnership with service users and carers.
• Evidence of Trust and service values and beliefs in working practice.
• Evidence of having unconditional positive regard for individuals experiencing serious mental health.
• Minimum 2 years' experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar user group
• Further relevant post qualifying training
• Experience of involving service users/ carers in evaluation/planning and monitoring of services
• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

• Understanding of the statutory issues which impact on service users.
• Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
• Awareness of common mental health conditions and how these can impact on an individual.
• Local knowledge (or willingness to develop local knowledge)
• Knowledge of employment law
• Knowledge of IPS principles of approach
• Knowledge of the benefits system.
• Awareness of services, businesses and community provision in local area

Skills and Competencies

• Proven ability to use IT systems
• Evidenced ability to work adaptability and flexibly to accommodate need
• Expertise in communicating and tailoring communication to individual need

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

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